Sarah Dewhurst is a specialist in conflict prevention, and security and development effectiveness in fragile states with particular expertise in Early Warning, Early Response methodologies.

About

She has seven years experience in Timor-Leste focusing on research, evaluation and evidence-based conflict prevention programming. Sarah continues as the in-country representative for Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR) at the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies (SIWPS), providing technical advice to the NGO Belun for a research project exploring factors affecting the legitimacy of security sector institutions.

She worked for four years as director of CICR and the NGO Belun’s Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) conflict prevention system. She is one of founding partners of Hametin Consultancy Group, a Timor-Leste-based social business aimed at bringing contextual understanding to development initiatives.

She has previously worked for Interpeace and Trocaire, supporting civil society-driven peacebuilding programming and conducting research capacity development. Her international development experience began through development work in India and humanitarian response in post-Tsunami Sri Lanka. Sarah holds a Masters degree in Post-War Recovery Studies from the University of York.